Georgian authorities must st vience against their own citizens – EU statement

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Picy Kaja Kallas and EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said this in a joint statement on develments in Georgia, which was published on the Eurean Commission's website, Ukrinform reports.

"The Georgian pele have once again taken to the streets to reaffirm their aspirations for joining the Eurean Union. The EU strongly condemns the vience against peaceful protesters, who are standing firm for their Eurean and democratic future. These actions by the Georgian government have direct consequences on our relationship," the statement reads.

In the document, the Eurean Union expressed regret about Irakli Kobakhidze's statement on the Georgian Dream's decision not to pursue the ening of EU accession negotiations and rejecting EU financial support until 2028.

This announcement marks a shift from the picies of all previous Georgian governments and the Eurean aspirations of the vast majority of the Georgian pele, as enshrined in the Constitution of Georgia.

"We recall that the Georgian authorities' course of actions and democratic backsliding led to the de facto halt of the accession process already in June this year and that financial assistance from the EU directly benefiting the Georgian authorities is currently on hd," Kallas and Kos said.

According to the statement, Georgian authorities must respect the right to freedom of assembly and freedom of expression, and refrain from using force against peaceful protesters, piticians and media representatives. All acts of vience must be investigated and those responsible held accountable.

"The EU reiterates its serious concerns about the continuous democratic backsliding of the country, including the irregularities which took place in the run up and during the recent Parliamentary elections. In this context, the EU is looking forward to the OSCE/ODIHR final report and its recommendations. The EU stands with the Georgian pele and their choice for a Eurean future. The door to the EU remains en and the return of Georgia to the Eurean values and the EU accession path is in the hands of the Georgian leadership," the statement reads.

Read also: Riot pice use water cannons, tear gas against protesters in Tbilisi

On November 28, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would suspend EU accession talks until 2028, sparking widespread outrage. That evening, protests erupted near the Georgian Dream party's central office in Tbilisi.

Special forces used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the demonstrators. According to the Georgian Interior Ministry, 43 protesters were detained, and at least ten journalists were injured during the dispersal.

The flowing day, thousands of protesters gathered again near the parliament building in Tbilisi. Law enforcement used water cannons to break up the demonstration, injuring Mariam Gaprindashvili, a journalist from an position TV channel.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili condemned the government's decision, calling it "the end of the constitutional coup" and likening the crackdown on protesters to "Russian methods."

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also condemned the use of force against peaceful protesters in Tbilisi, urging the Georgian authorities to respect citizens' rights to peaceful assembly and refrain from vience or provocations.

On Saturday, protests resumed across several cities in Georgia against the government's decision to abandon EU accession talks.